Publish date: 3 April 2025
The Life Rooms team at Ashworth Hospital has continued its inspiring partnership with musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, led by professional cellist Georgina Aarsgaard.
Over six weeks, the sessions explored a range of musical themes, culminating in a unique sharing event titled “Come as You Are! From Silence to Nocturnal Fusion.” Patients and musicians collaborated, experimenting with improvisation, silence, and nocturnes to create something truly original.
Musicians from the UK’s oldest professional symphony orchestra—including a cellist, clarinettist, double bassist, and guitarist—worked alongside patients playing electric guitar and bass. Together, they explored music from renowned composers and artists, blending classical and contemporary styles.
A central theme of the sessions was the space between the sounds. As French composer Claude Debussy said: “The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between them.” This idea became a starting point for reflection, encouraging participants to consider silence as an instrument. Through attentive listening, they discovered how stillness in music enhances imagination and deepens the connection to the world around us.
Using the iconic guitar riff and bassline from Nirvana’s 1992 hit “Come as You Are”, the group experimented with improvisation, co-creating an original piece that was performed at the final event. The performance was accompanied by a powerful poem, “Life Rooms Spirit”, written by S, a participant.
The sessions also delved into the world of nocturnes—musical compositions that evoke the night, made famous by Frédéric Chopin. One patient, C, has already composed 17 nocturnes, adapting them for solo cello. At the sharing event, Georgina Aarsgaard performed C’s latest composition, and C expressed an ambition to complete a further four nocturnes, mirroring Chopin’s famous collection of 21! One of these original nocturnes has been submitted to the Koestler Awards, which celebrate creative work by individuals in the criminal justice system.
There is strong research evidence supporting the use of music in therapy in mental health settings, offering benefits such as emotional expression, stress reduction, social connection, and – as evident from this sharing event - active listening skills.
Looking ahead, Georgina has recently begun working with a group of patients at Rowan View and hopes to return to Ashworth over the summer to continue this meaningful work.
